Latch construction



April 3, 1945. A. J. RHODES LATCH CONSTRUCTION Original Filed May 23,1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

FT d HIT 01 755 April 3, 1945. A. J. RHODES 2,373,053

LATCH CONSTRUCTION Original Filed May 23, 1940 2 sheets-sheet 2 25INVENTOR.

49- ALBER J.RHODES TTORN S Patented Apr. 3, 1945 LATCH CONSTRUCTIONAlbert J. Rhodes, Pontiac, Mich., assignor to American Forging & SocketCompany, Pontiac, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Original applicationMay 23, 1940, Serial No.

336,782, now Patent No. 2,302,957, dated November 24, 1942. Divided andthis application September 14, 1942, Serial No. 458,183

3 Claims.

This invention relates to latch mechanisms and equivalent holdingdevices, being particu larly, although not exclusively, adapted for usein latching the hoods of motor vehicles.

An important object of the invention is to provide an improved andsimplified hood latch, incorating safety catch mechanism in conjunctionwith a main latch, the safety catch mechanism being automatically calledinto play upon, release of the main catch, and preventing complete re.-lease of the hood, or other held portions, save when deliberatelymanipulated in a manner which is only possible when the vehicle is atrest.

Another object of the invention is to arrange a shield between th opengrille of tlie'motor vehicle and the movable parts of my improved latchmechanism, this shield being positioned so as to prevent manipulation ofthe latch mechanism by an implement thrust through the grille without,however, impairing the movements of the'movable latch parts.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingdescription, wherein reference is made to'the accompanying drawingsillustrating a preferred embodiment of my invention, and

wherein similar reference numerals designate similar parts throughoutthe several views.

The pre'sentapplication is a division of my copending application SerialNo. 336,782, filed May 23. 1940, now Letters Patent No. 2,302,957,issued November 24., 1942. i

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic side elevational view of the frontportion of the hood of a motor vehicle provided with a hood latchingmeans constructed in accordance with the present invention, portions ofthe hood and radiator grille being broken away to disclose thepositioning of the latch assembly.

Figure 2 is a plan view of that portion of the latch mechanism which iscarried by the flied part of the vehicle structure, the lid or bonnetsection being raised. J Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal centralsec.- tion of the latch mechanism and adjacent supporting portions ofthe vehicle structure, showing the parts in the positions they occupywhen the lid is fully closed and latched.

Figure 4 is a sectional view similar to Figure 3 on the line 4-4 ofFigure 2, but showing the main catch released and the safety catchblocking full opening movement of the lid.

Figure 5 is a vertical section taken substantially on the line 5-5 ofFigure 2, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 6 is a plan view of that portion of the latch assembly which iscarried by the lid section, showing the same removed from the lid.

Fig. '7 is a detail perspective view showing a preferred form ofmounting the inner edge of the shield. l

Referring now to the drawings, it will be seen that a vehicle bodyhaving afront engine-em closing hood of more or less conventional arrangement is illustratedin Figure 1. The fixed hood portion l0 forms themain enclosure for the engine compartment, which is accessible through alid or bonnet l2, hinged to the vehicle at its back edge and adapted tobe lifted from the front.

A gusset plate l5, mounted within the nose of the lid section. andserving also as a reenforcemerit, carries a relatively heavy stud ITprojecting downwardly therefrom, riveted or otherwise secured in place.Theportion of the stud which extends through the gusset plate ispreferably flattened upon atleast one side, to lock it against turning.The lower end of the stud is threaded, and carries a substantially conichead forming a keeper. The keeper is threaded upon the stud and adaptedto be locked against turning by means of a set screw 2|. Thesubstantially conic shape of the keeper will be seen to provide ashoulder, 22, at right angles to the stud, while its threaded mountingallows adjustment there* of, simpl by loosening set screw 2| to permitrotation of the keeper.

To the under side of a cooperating plate 39, secured to the fixedportion of the vehicle structure, as by bolts 3i, and aperturedv as at32 in position to permit the keeper head 20 to project therethrough, ispivoted a swinging sheet metal bolt 25. Bolt is normally drawn intolocked overengagement with the shoulder 22 of the keeper by means of aspring 33. This mechanism is positioned forwardly of the radiator 24 andbehind the front grille Bolt 25 would accordingly be accessible by meansof an implement thrust through the grille, were it not guarded by theshield 49.

' A spring 35, encircling stud l1, resists closing movement of the lid,and lifts the same sufficiently to free the keeper head 20 from the bolt25 whenever the latter is released. Spring 35 is positioned by and bearsagainst an inverted cup 31, slidable upon the stud. The lower edge ofthe cup is flanged to form a seat for the spring, and such flange, beingtoo large to pass through indicated at 23, to allow the same to beconveniently turned when the set screw is loosened, as well as roundedto assist camming the bolt. Cup 31 is rotatable upon the stud, to permitalignment of the opening 39 with set screw 2|.

A lug 40 is turned up from one edge of the bolt 25, and projects througha slot 42 in plate 39. A flexible cable 44, attached to the lug andconnected to a conveniently positioned button 45 located upon theinstrument panel 4! of the vehicle, enables the bolt 25 to be releasedat will.

The shield 49 is formed. of sheet metal and secured to the plate 30,.underlying the bolt 25 and spring 33 to prevent picking the latch bymeans of an implement thrust through the front grille 50.

As best shown in Figs. 2 and 5, the shield 49 is arranged between thekeeper 2!! and one side of the grille, and is herein shown assubstantially triangular in contour with its corners secured to theunderside of the supporting plate 30, the central portion of the shield49 being depressed to form a housing for the free end of the pivotedlatch bolt 25 and cooperating elements. This depressed portion of theshield is closed at the front and side adjacent the grille to preventingress of an implement thrust through the grille into contact with thelatch bolt 25 but is open at the rear and opposite side to permitdesired movements of the latch bolt 25 when the button 45 is pulled toopenthe bonnet [2. These open rear and side portions of the shield 49are so protected by the radiator and other latch parts arranged at thecenter of the vehicle that the latch bolt 25 cannot be manipulatedtherethrough.

Two of the bolts 3| passing through elongated slots in horizontalflanges bent outwardly from the upper edges of the front and outer sidewalls of shield 49 are utilized in securing the shield in position.(Note Fig. 2.) ,The other corner of the triangular shield is preferablysecured to plate 30 substantially in the manner shown in Fig. 7. Aflange 49 is formed with a pair of spaced upstanding tabs 49, which arearranged to pass through slots in plate 30 and then are bent over intocontact with plate 30 to suspend the shield. An elongated aperture 49 ispierced in the side wall of shield 49 below flange 49 (Fig. 7), and theside walls of such aperture may serve as stops to limit the swingingmovement of bolt 25.

I am aware that the invention may be embodied in other specific formswithout departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and Itherefore desirethe present embodiment to be considered in all respectsas illustrative and not restrictive; reference being had to the appendedclaims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope ofthe invention.

I claim:

1. Hood latching means adapted to hold in closed position the bonnetsection of a motor vehicle body of that type having a radiator and agrille spacedly disposed in front of the same, and having a bonnethinged at its rear extremity and overlying the space between theradiator and grille, comprising a support arranged between said grilleand radiator and near the top of the space therebetween, a holdingelement carried by said support and movable to and from holdingengagement with a part carried by the bonnet when the latter is closed,and shielding means underlying said holding element and projectinglaterally between it and the adjacent side of said grille into positionto prevent manipulation grille, comprising a support arranged betweensaid grille and radiator and near the top of the space therebetween, aholding element carried by said support and movable to and from holdingengagement with a part carried by the bonnet when the latter is closed,and shielding means underlying said holding element and preventingmanipulation thereof by means of an implement thrust through the grille,said shielding means comprising a plate secured at its edges to saidsupport and having a depressed portion extending below and enclosing theportion of the holding element nearest said grille.

3. Hood latching means adapted to hold'in closed position the bonnetsection of a motor vehicle body of that type having a radiator and acurved grille, spacedly disposed in front of the radiator with its sidesadjacent the sides of the radiator, and having a bonnet hinged at itsrear extremity and overlying the space between the radiator and grille,comprising a support arranged between said grille and radiator and near

